Position: Child Life Specialist

Location: Rochester Regional Health Home Care - Syracuse
Hours: Full Time 40 hrs/ week

Schedule: Mon-Friday 8:30am - 5pm

The Child Life Specialist is a core member of the interdisciplinary care team serving pediatric palliative care patients and their families in the home and community setting. The Child Life Specialist is responsible for the development and delivery of skilled child life support focused on the developmental, emotional and psychosocial needs of identified CompassionNet patients (children/teens with a potentially life-threatening illness) and their siblings. The Child Life Specialist promotes effective coping through developmentally appropriate interventions and advocacy for family-centered care, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team and in accordance with Child Life standards and scope of practice.

Essential Responsibilities/Accountabilities
Level I
• Collaborates as an effective member of the Interdisciplinary Care Team and as a resource regarding children’s developmental and psychosocial needs to reduce suffering and promote healthy coping for children, siblings and families.
• Understands and promotes the integration of pediatric palliative care with pediatric acute care and community-based care.
• Collaborates with involved parents/caregivers to assess initial/ongoing developmental and psychosocial needs and coping styles of children and/or siblings, while promoting family-centered care.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates plan of care for child life services to empower and address the needs of medically fragile children, their siblings, and families, to support comfort, goals of care, and facilitate adaptive coping through developmentally appropriate interventions including medical play, expressive techniques, education, procedural support, developmental and psychosocial support.
• Promotes a safe and nurturing environment within the home setting, school, or other community setting agreed upon with family.
• Collaborates with medical team to provide developmentally appropriate diagnostic teaching.
• Provides ongoing education and information to parents/caregivers related to child development, childrens’ reaction(s) to stress and healthcare experiences, anticipatory grief, and bereavement.
• Provides opportunities for family members to participate in expressive/therapeutic play activities including grief, loss, and legacy work as appropriate.
• Advocates on behalf of the child and family to assure their wishes/goals are being respected and communicated with the team throughout illness and at end-of-life.
• Facilitates developmentally appropriate grief and bereavement interventions, both preceding and following the child’s death; including preparation for funeral/memorial services, facilitation of memory making, therapeutic intervention to assess and respond to children’s understanding and coping needs.
• Plans and implements age-appropriate programming for children and siblings to encourage opportunities for peer support, validation, and to reduce feelings of isolation.
• Documents all communication/interventions with all program participants and potential participants.
• Participates in Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) meetings.
• Meets department productivity standards.
• Collaborates with child life staff at the facility where the child receives “primary care” to promote consistency of care.
• Consistently demonstrates high standards of integrity by supporting the Lifetime Healthcare Companies’ mission and values and adhering to the Corporate Code of Conduct.
• Maintains high regard for member privacy in accordance with the corporate privacy policies and procedures.
• Regular and reliable attendance is expected and required.
• Performs other functions as assigned by management.

Minimum Qualifications
Level I
• Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals (formerly the Child Life Council) is required, with a minimum of 3 years related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in child life, psychology, child development, or human service required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Must have ability to travel.
• Demonstrates strong communication (both written and verbal), interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills.
• Basic computer skills are necessary, including but not limited to the ability to navigate on a personal computer within a Windows based operating environment; the ability to access and create basic e-mail messages; and the ability to open, edit, and save basic electronic documents if necessary.
• With training provided, must demonstrate the ability to learn and utilize new systems, computer applications and operating environments as necessary.

Note of Classification
We include multiple levels of classification differentiated by demonstrated knowledge, skills, and the ability to manage increasingly independent and/or complex assignments, broader responsibility, additional decision making, and in some cases, becoming a resource to others. In addition to using this differentiated approach to place new hires, it also provides guideposts for employee development and promotional opportunities.

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EDUCATION:

LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS: 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Drive - Clinical - Roles in this category require frequent driving combined with mobile clinical care across settings such as emergency response, mobile clinics, and home health environments. Staff must repeatedly enter and exit vehicles, occasionally lift and carry equipment weighing up to 100 lbs. or more, and perform care within patients’ homes or other confined, unpredictable, or uncontrolled environments. These positions demand strong fine and gross motor control, firm grasping, and heightened visual and auditory awareness to ensure safe and effective care delivery. Emotional and cognitive demands are substantial due to rapid decision‑making, direct exposure to critical or sensitive situations, and independently managing patient care in the field or home setting. Environmental exposures may include traffic hazards, infectious agents, extreme temperatures, variable home conditions, and hazardous materials. Valid licensure, physical readiness, and flexibility for extended or on‑call schedules are typically required.

For disease specific care programs refer to the program specific requirements of the department for further specifications on experience and educational expectations, including continuing education requirements.

Any physical requirements reported by a prospective employee and/or employee’s physician or delegate will be considered for accommodations.

PAY RANGE:

$60,500.00 - $75,000.00Syracuse13214

The posted pay range is a good faith representation of potential base pay for this position. It may be modified in the future and eligible for additional pay components. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates could vary based on position details and FTE. Pay is determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, experience, relevant qualifications, specialty, internal equity, locations, and contracts.

Rochester Regional Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.